Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB671

Introduced
4/30/25  

Caption

In Community Development Bank Grant and Loan Program, further providing for definitions and providing for financial assistance to air ambulance crash impacted businesses.

Impact

The implementation of SB671 is expected to facilitate a structured recovery process for businesses that suffered losses due to the tragic incident. By introducing financial grants and loans, the bill aims to mitigate the economic challenges these businesses face, promoting job retention and continuity of operations in the affected area. Additionally, the establishment of a comprehensive study to analyze effective recovery approaches in other states signifies a proactive step towards creating robust support mechanisms for small businesses in emergency situations.

Summary

Senate Bill 671 aims to amend the Job Enhancement Act to provide targeted financial assistance to businesses affected by the air ambulance crash that occurred in Philadelphia on January 31, 2025. The bill introduces new definitions related to businesses impacted by the crash and establishes grant and loan programs specifically designed to support these businesses. Through these programs, eligible institutions and nonprofits will be able to offer necessary technical assistance, training, and other forms of support to aid in recovery and stabilization efforts for impacted businesses.

Sentiment

Overall, the sentiment surrounding SB671 appears to be positive, particularly among stakeholders focused on economic recovery and support for local businesses. Lawmakers have expressed a sense of urgency to assist those adversely impacted by the air ambulance crash, recognizing the bill as a crucial step towards revitalizing the community. However, there may be concerns about the distribution of funds and the adequacy of support mechanisms for all qualifying businesses, which could be points of contention during discussions and evaluations.

Contention

Though SB671 is anticipated to garner support, concerns may arise regarding the execution of the grant and loan programs, including potential bureaucratic hurdles and the equitable distribution of financial assistance. Questions about the restrictive timeframe for award disbursement—limited to five years after the effective date—might also be points of discussion. The proposed study by the Joint State Government Commission could lead to further recommendations and revisions to improve the program's effectiveness, but it suggests that ongoing evaluations and adjustments may be needed in response to evolving requirements in the recovery process.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA SB782

Further providing for grants and loans; providing for industrial sites cleanup financial assistance; making an interfund transfer; providing for transitional provisions; and making a repeal.

PA HB744

Further providing for definitions, for creation of program, for incubator grants, loans and loan guarantees and for responsibilities of local sponsors; repealing provisions relating to challenge grants for seed capital funds; further providing for general powers and duties of the board and for indicators of program impact; providing for funding sources; repealing provisions relating to time limit on approvals; and making a repeal.

PA SB1340

Establishing the Office of Employee Ownership within the Department of Community and Economic Development; establishing the Main Street Employee Ownership Grant Program; and providing technical and financial assistance to employee-owned enterprises.

PA HB1790

Establishing the Office of Employee Ownership within the Department of Community and Economic Development; establishing the Main Street Employee Ownership Grant Program; and providing technical and financial assistance to employee-owned enterprises.

PA SB843

In preliminary provisions, further providing for Special Education Funding Commission, for Basic Education Funding Commission and for Commission on Education and Economic Competitiveness and providing for public job posting database, for instructional vacancy data and for data transparency; providing for Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact; in drug and alcohol recovery high school program, further providing for scope of program and selection of students, providing for enrollment of students and further providing for academic programs; in terms and courses of study, further providing for Economic Education and Personal Financial Literacy Programs; in early learning programs, providing for quarterly reporting; in high schools, further providing for attendance in other districts; in educational tax credits, further providing for definitions; in credit card marketing, further providing for regulation of on-campus credit card marketing; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status; and abrogating regulations.

PA HB2338

In Energy Development Authority and emergency powers, further providing for definitions, for Energy Development Authority, for powers and duties and for authority indebtedness.

PA HB922

In Commonwealth Financing Authority, further providing for Second Stage Loan Program.

PA SB700

In preliminary provisions, providing for advertising and sponsorships; in intermediate units, further providing for school safety and security enhancements; in professional employees, further providing for qualifications; in certification of teachers, further providing for State certificates, for career and technical instruction and for baccalaureate certification basic skills assessment; in Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program, further providing for definitions, for program establishment and duties of agency, for eligibility and for report; in school safety and security, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program, for school safety and security coordinator, for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program and for school safety and security training and providing for school safety and mental health grants for 2024-2025 school year; in school security, further providing for duties of commission, providing for school security personnel and establishing School Security Personnel Fund; in school security, further providing for duties of commission and providing for school security personnel and for School Security Personnel Fund; in school health services, further providing for vision screening and examinations; in Drug and Alcohol Recovery High School Program, further providing for establishment and payment of tuition; in administrative partnerships between school entities, further providing for legislative intent and for definitions, providing for instructional programming partnerships authorized, for school district feasibility study and for construction and further providing for establishment, for application, for grant awards, for technical assistance, for reports by school entities and for reports by department; in talent recruitment, further providing for Talent Recruitment Account; in charter schools, further providing for definitions, for charter school requirements, for powers of board of trustees, for facilities and for funding for charter schools, providing for funding for cyber charter schools, further providing for enrollment and notification and providing for enrollee wellness checks and for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations; in disability inclusive curriculum, further providing for department responsibilities; in Schools-to-Work-Program, repealing provisions relating to expiration; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for definitions, for qualification and application by organizations, for tax credits and for limitations, repealing provisions relating to opportunity scholarships and providing for economically disadvantaged school scholarships; in course materials at institutions of higher education, repealing provisions relating to College Textbook Policies Advisory Committee; in sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking education, prevention and response at institutions of higher education and private licensed schools, further providing for memorandum of understanding; in miscellaneous provisions relating to institutions of higher education, repealing provisions relating to Public Higher Education Funding Commission; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2024-2025; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums and for student-weighted basic education funding, providing for student-weighted basic education funding beginning with 2023-2024 school year, further providing for State reimbursement for health services, for payments to intermediate units, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status and for Commonwealth reimbursements for charter schools and cyber charter schools, repealing provisions relating to administrative and instructional consolidation incentives and further providing for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant; in State Board of Education, further providing for powers and duties of the board; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; in School Environmental Repairs Program, further providing for School Environmental Repairs Program Restricted Account and for School Environmental Repairs Program; and making editorial changes.

PA HB2398

In transfers of credits between institutions of higher education, further providing for definitions and for duties of public institutions of higher education, providing for guaranteed admission, for reports to General Assembly and for dispute resolution and further providing for Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee, for duties of department and for applicability; in higher education accountability and transparency, further providing for definitions and providing for student fee transparency; and providing for institutions of higher education and Dual Credit Innovation and Equity Grant Program.

PA HB2256

In veteran-owned small businesses, further providing for definitions, for regulations, for participation goal, for duties of Department of General Services and for bonding and progress payments, providing for request for full or partial waiver and good faith efforts, further providing for reports and providing for disparity study; in small and disadvantaged businesses, further providing for policy and for definitions, providing for Small and Midsize Diverse Business Program and for nonapplicability, further providing for regulations and for duties of department, providing for request for full or partial waiver and good faith efforts, further providing for bonding and progress payments and for report to General Assembly and providing for aspirational target, for disparity study and for program review and expiration; providing for Program for Construction and Design Professional Services; and making editorial changes.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.